Cost of Living Comparison Between Arbon and Geneva Cost of Living Comparison Between Arbon and Geneva

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,362 per month in Arbon vs $4,060 in Geneva, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,166 per month in Arbon vs $6,383 in Geneva, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,970 per month in Arbon vs $8,707 in Geneva, rent included.

Arbon is about 17% cheaper than Geneva, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arbon and Geneva sit above the global median – Arbon by 151%, Geneva by 203%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.71 CHF 24.21

$37.68 CHF 29.71

-18.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$140 CHF 110

$150 CHF 118

-6.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.11 CHF 13.49

$18.64 CHF 14.69

-8.21%

Cappuccino

$6.33 CHF 4.99

$5.97 CHF 4.71

6.03%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 CHF 4.15

$5.49 CHF 4.33

-4.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 CHF 3.41

$4.92 CHF 3.88

-11.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.71 CHF 6.08

$10.13 CHF 7.99

-23.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.51 CHF 5.92

$8.54 CHF 6.73

-12.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 CHF 1.71

$2.26 CHF 1.78

-3.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 CHF 2.10

$3.88 CHF 3.06

-31.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.64 CHF 2.87

$4.44 CHF 3.50

-18.02%

Eggs

$7.87 CHF 6.20

$7.62 CHF 6.00

3.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.41 CHF 21.61

$26.53 CHF 20.92

3.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$31.88 CHF 25.14

$33.26 CHF 26.22

-4.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$40.41 CHF 31.86

$52.6 CHF 41.45

-23.15%

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 CHF 2.47

$3.49 CHF 2.75

-10.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 CHF 1.45

$2.52 CHF 1.99

-26.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 CHF 2.01

$3.07 CHF 2.42

-16.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.51 CHF 5.14

$6.26 CHF 4.93

3.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CHF 1.97

$2.66 CHF 2.09

-6.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 CHF 1.80

$2.32 CHF 1.83

-1.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.55 CHF 2.01

$2.57 CHF 2.03

-0.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 CHF 0.90

$1.36 CHF 1.07

-15.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.80 CHF 8.51

$10.90 CHF 8.59

-0.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.87 CHF 9.36

$12.84 CHF 10.13

-7.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 CHF 1.77

$3.26 CHF 2.57

-30.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 CHF 1.81

$3.63 CHF 2.87

-36.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.90 CHF 3.07

$3.60 CHF 2.83

8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 CHF 79.2

$85.5 CHF 67.4

17.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 CHF 5.32

$7.53 CHF 5.94

-10.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.26 CHF 3.36

$3.64 CHF 2.87

17.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$80.5 CHF 63.5

$65.6 CHF 51.7

22.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.11 CHF 1.66

$2.23 CHF 1.76

-5.38%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$40.5K CHF 31.9K

$41.0K CHF 32.3K

-1.39%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$43.1K CHF 34.0K

$48.7K CHF 38.4K

-11.63%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$248 CHF 196

$262 CHF 207

-5.13%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.2 CHF 46.67

$47.82 CHF 37.70

23.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 CHF 42.31

$63.3 CHF 49.87

-15.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.6 CHF 69.1

$79.6 CHF 62.7

10.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.97 CHF 28.36

Cinema Ticket

$22.44 CHF 17.69

$24.48 CHF 19.30

-8.33%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,843 CHF 2,242

$3,514 CHF 2,770

-19.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.5K CHF 34.3K

$32.7K CHF 25.8K

33.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 CHF 111

$138 CHF 109

1.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.8 CHF 51.9

$81.7 CHF 64.4

-19.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 CHF 105

$162 CHF 128

-17.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 CHF 127

$214 CHF 169

-24.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 CHF 1,327

$2,329 CHF 1,836

-27.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 CHF 1,176

$2,049 CHF 1,615

-27.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,865 CHF 2,259

$4,631 CHF 3,651

-38.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,423 CHF 1,910

$3,922 CHF 3,092

-38.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.2K CHF 11.2K

$23.1K CHF 18.2K

-38.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K CHF 9,140

$16.4K CHF 12.9K

-29.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$11.4K CHF 8,986

$7,858 CHF 6,195

45.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

2.46

1.63%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Geneva: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,683 in Arbon versus $2,329 in Geneva. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 45% higher in Arbon, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $140 in Arbon versus $150 in Geneva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $602 vs $678 – making Arbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Arbon vs Geneva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,362 in Arbon, $4,060 in Geneva – roughly 21% apart. Geneva costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,043 per month in Arbon and $6,090 in Geneva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arbon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,362 in Arbon and $4,060 in Geneva. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 17% less in Arbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,362 in Arbon and $4,060 in Geneva. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Geneva has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,362 in Arbon to $4,060 in Geneva. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Arbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Geneva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.